News / Local
Govt investigates abuse of war vets
05 Sep 2021 at 06:57hrs | Views
THE Government has reportedly launched an investigation into the alleged ill-treatment of veterans of the liberation struggle employed by various local authorities in the country.
The investigation team is being coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works where among other objectives is tasked with ascertaining the allegations of purging, harassment and ill-treatment of the war veterans employed by local authorities. The investigating team is in Bulawayo where members are meant to verify war veterans, ex-detainees and restrictees and war collaborators employed by the local authority.
"The terms of reference for the investigating team are to ascertain the allegations of purging, harassment and ill-treatment of veterans of the liberation struggle employed by local authorities, to establish the local authorities' adherence to the 20 percent quota reservations for war veterans in allocation of stands and other amenities.
"The matter was considered and the Town Clerk (Mr Christopher Dube) explained that the investigation was still ongoing. He said that the investigations were looking at the veterans of liberation struggle who were employed in local authorities. There was an outcry that they were not being treated fairly at their places of work. This was taking place in all the provinces," reads part of a confidential report on the matter.
In debating the issue, the Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni said that as a local authority, despite the presence of the investigating team, they had not entertained any grievance as raised by the investigating team.
"Most of the war veterans had now retired and the few that were left were now left with a few years to retire. He observed that the war veterans within council service were not documented and not organised as any particular grouping which had brought grievances to the employer to deal with the terms of laid down procedures," reads the report.
According to the report the investigating team is expected to write a report on findings and make recommendations to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo within five days of completion of the investigation.
The investigation team is being coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works where among other objectives is tasked with ascertaining the allegations of purging, harassment and ill-treatment of the war veterans employed by local authorities. The investigating team is in Bulawayo where members are meant to verify war veterans, ex-detainees and restrictees and war collaborators employed by the local authority.
"The terms of reference for the investigating team are to ascertain the allegations of purging, harassment and ill-treatment of veterans of the liberation struggle employed by local authorities, to establish the local authorities' adherence to the 20 percent quota reservations for war veterans in allocation of stands and other amenities.
In debating the issue, the Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni said that as a local authority, despite the presence of the investigating team, they had not entertained any grievance as raised by the investigating team.
"Most of the war veterans had now retired and the few that were left were now left with a few years to retire. He observed that the war veterans within council service were not documented and not organised as any particular grouping which had brought grievances to the employer to deal with the terms of laid down procedures," reads the report.
According to the report the investigating team is expected to write a report on findings and make recommendations to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo within five days of completion of the investigation.
Source - sundaynews
